Hypersonica raises €100M to speed hypersonic deep-strike missile development; founders say 'the debate about whether Europe needs hypersonic deep-strike capability is over'

Hypersonica, a British-German startup, has raised €100 million in Series B funding to expedite the development of hypersonic deep-strike missiles. The funding round was co-led by US investors Lightspeed and General Catalyst, with participation from existing investors Plural and 201 Ventures.

Founded in 2023, Hypersonica aims to create military technology that is faster and more cost-effective than traditional defense firms. The company plans to use the new funding to enhance testing, expand operations across Europe, and create hundreds of engineering and manufacturing jobs in the UK and Germany.

The startup is part of the Trinity House Agreement between the UK and Germany, which focuses on developing long-range conventional weapons, including hypersonic systems with ranges exceeding 2,000 kilometers. Co-founders Dr. Philipp Kerth and Dr. Marc Ewenz emphasized that the debate over Europe's need for hypersonic capabilities is settled, stating, “Governments have recognised the requirement and begun funding programmes.”

Hypersonica's missiles are projected to cost just 20% of traditional missile systems when fully operational by 2029. The company has already tested its HS-1 model, achieving speeds above Mach 6 over more than 300 kilometers, marking a significant milestone for privately funded European defense initiatives.

As NATO anticipates a £37 billion investment in deep precision strike capabilities over the next decade, Hypersonica is positioned to redefine how advanced defense capabilities are developed in Europe.

“Strategic autonomy begins with the ability to build critical technologies at speed, at scale and at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems,” said Jeannette zu Fürstenberg, president and MD at General Catalyst.